Of Tom/Nuhu's Defection and the Disappearance/Search for Idea-Based Opposition Parties in the Nigerian Political System!

See Some Excerpts From: "Game Change: The Uncertainty of Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and A Case for Progressive Option", written March 16, 2012

Presently, PDP is creating a one party state through the back door - the number of committees and study groups so far created and being created by the President and his serving Ministers are more than necessary by any Government or Ministry to function effectively. They are systematically co-opting members of the opposition parties and retired technocrats into the government stealthily and openly, with a view to decapitating alternative voices and the opposition parties.

Don't be fooled, President Jonathan is a chip off the old block. He is a PDP in flesh and blood - once a PDP, always a PDP. What is most troubling is that ACN, CPC, and Labor [presently, APC] do not have leaders with a commanding presence at the national level to match the political strength and influence of PDP heavy weights lurking behind the political scene. Adding to that, none has the credibility or records of performance to brand a contrast and mount a vigorous nation-wide campaign to oust the ruling class from power at the national level.

Moving Forward:

The first step is to separate the wheat from the chaff within the progressives circle. There are numerous political parties in our country today, without any distinctive manifestos, but each masquerading as real alternative to the PDP. Within these parties you have pockets of real progressives laboring in vain to find a voice at the national level, while interlopers and career politicians hold sway and calling the shots.

For instance, the fact that you wear the Pa Awo style of hat doesn't make you an Awoist or imbue you with Awo's values and his leadership virtues. Do you profess Awoism in true sense, and be willing to apply them to the best of your ability relative to the volume of resources within your control - pragmatism? That is the test.

In other words, you don’t have to be an Afenifere to wear the crown. After all, Professor Claude Ake who introduced “Awo” as a course of study in his Faculty at the University of Calabar, was not in any shape or form a politician or of the Yoruba race. He was simply an authentic Awoist and a true witness to the accomplishments of the late sage. That he decided to propagate the message (Awoism) to the younger generations via classroom setting was quite understandable. So, it is mandatory; Awoism shouldn't be about slogan and rhetoric, but action and performance. Right now, there are no traces of Awoism or the philosophy of Pa Awo in any of the registered  political parties in Nigeria. 

In similar vein, the fact that you exude an Aminu Kano's populist activism or image doesn't make you a lover of the talakawa or a talakawa sympathizer. Do you have what it takes to organize with righteous intent, designed exclusively to serve the under-class? Are you willing to practice egalitarianism? How many people have you liberated from poverty, decadence, illiteracy, and mental slavery? Are you willing to accept that there are people in your community deserving of socio-economic emancipation? That is the test. Alex Aidaghese, March 16, 2012

It's time true PROGRESSIVES stand out and be counted. It's time true PROGRESSIVES stop running after political leaders who have never in their actions or utterances profess egalitarianism or populist principles in governing process. It's time commentators in the social media who espouse progressive and populist principles stop whining and crying over defection of the Toms, the Nuhus, and all the Femis of our body politic to where they truly belong - the conservative block. It's time non-aligned progressives and non-political progressives storm the Nigerian Political Scene by any means necessary and rescue the progressive movement from interlopers, and positioning it in line with the thoughts and visions of the Enahorohs and the Soyinkas, the Pa Awos, and the true maverick of Nigerian politics, Malam Aminu Kano. We cannot save Nigeria without changing it. President Jonathan, granted, is not originally from the usual power clique; nevertheless, his presidency is a vital element of the status quo, an extension of the IBB/Obasanjo hegemony. Therefore, the narrative shouldn't just be about how to kick GEJ out of Aso Rock, but about dislodging PDP as a political party from managing our political system. That was where Tinubu and Buhari and the entire leadership of APC got it wrong. GEJ is a broda; not just to me, but to most minority men. If you take the fight personal, as you have been doing, most guys will rally round him. If, on the other hand, you direct the fight at his political party (PDP) on ideological ground, you stand a better chance of getting new supporters and nation-wide acceptance.

Ferguson: Of Race Relations and the Persecution of Michael Brown!

Why we need to address race relations in a thoughtful, provocative way!

"But the perfection of the metaphor is soon blurred by facts. The gentle giant, Michael Brown Jr.–nicknamed Bodyguard by his friends–seems pretty intimidating in a surveillance video, in which he is seen taking cigarillos from a convenience store, tossing the diminutive clerk into a snack display as if he were a bag of Doritos. The alleged robbery occurred 10 minutes before the confrontation with the cop. The inevitable Rev. Al Sharpton says the video is an attempt to “smear” the young man. Then more facts emerge, and other eyewitnesses allegedly describe a more aggressive Michael Brown–more like the fellow in the video. An autopsy, requested by Brown’s parents, shows six bullet wounds; the kill shot is into the top of the victim’s head, which raises another possibility, that the officer, Darren Wilson, fired in self-defence. And now we have a metaphor of a different, far more difficult sort: about the uncanny ability of Americans to talk past each other when it comes to race relations, and also about the struggle between facts and metaphoric truths." "Beyond a Simple Solution for Ferguson" by Joe Klein: TIME

A Common Sense Analysis of Michael Brown's Shooting Based on Eyewitness Accounts:

In the words of Mr. Joe Klein, "An autopsy, requested by Brown’s parents, shows six bullet wounds; the kill shot is into the top of the victim’s head–which raises another possibility, that the officer, Darren Wilson, fired in self-defense." Is Mr. Klein saying that, if a shot is fired to the top of a victim's head, it can only be explained as been fired in self-defense? Where is the nexus between "... the kill shot ... into the top of the victim's head" and the "...fired in self-defense?”  Mr. Joe Klein, I think you ran out of words or ideas to justify your self-defence proposition. The second poser, which Mr. Joe Klein did not address, is concerning the height of Michael Brown. One is at a loss, going by Mr. Joe Klein's theory, as to whether Michael Brown was diminutive, thus making it possible for Officer Wilson to shoot him right on top of his head? How could that have happened! Michael Brown was a six-footer, much taller than Officer Wilson. Or is Mr. Joe Klein insinuating that Officer Wilson extended his hand and gun above Michael Brown's head before firing the "kill shot" at the top of his head? How? 

How was it possible for Officer Wilson to fire at the top of Michael Brown's head, when it is quite obvious that Michael Brown was not diminutive? Mr. Klein, you are not making any sense here in your piece. You alluded to a self-defence possibility, without actually providing ascertainable facts to buttress your suggested possibility that the Officer acted in self-defence. How could a shot to the top of the victim's head be interpreted to result from the Officer's intent to defend himself? You are trying to justify a clear case of murder in cold blood as being a product of self-defence.

Where was the threat or imminent threat of infliction of bodily harm or injury? Where was the attack with a deadly weapon? By the way, where was "The Officer" - the training, the maintenance of peace and order - in Officer Wilson during the encounter with the late Michael Brown?

Besides, where are the facts? And at what point in the investigation did they start to blur the "perfection of the metaphor?' That he was not shot? That he had a loaded gun? Or that he was a gentle giant who dwarfed the store owner? Are these the facts that vitiate the crime; thus, blurring the "perfection of the metaphor?" You are simply playing with words.

Mr. Joe Klein (The Anonymous), Officer Wilson fired the killer shot, while Michael Brown was going down or already down. If Officer Wilson had stopped firing when Michael Brown was collapsing (that is, after the first four or five gunshots), "the kill shot" to the brain would not have happened, and Michael Brown would not have died.

It is very disappointing seeing how some of you in the news media are labouring strenuously to create a compelling, but false narrative for justifiable homicide - talking about "other eye witnesses" in the abstract, when you cannot mention any name to buttress or substantiate your subliminal hogwash.

I do not know what happened between Officer Wilson and Michael Brown in the car. What we do know is that there was a contact between Michael Brown and Officer Wilson in the car. Michael Brown walked away from Officer Wilson and his car. As he was walking away, Officer Wilson came out of his car and fired at Michael Brown. And from all the eyewitness accounts, Michael Brown was still backing Officer Wilson when the first gunshot was fired. Hearing the gunshot - a possibility that the first gunshot hit Michael in the hand - he turned around to face Officer Wilson. Then, all the eyewitnesses said Michael Brown had his hands up in the air - fearing for his life and in total surrender. But it was too late.

Officer Wilson did not budge; he continued firing. Then, again, according to all the eyewitnesses, Michael Brown jerked. And as he was collapsing to the ground or already on the ground, Officer Wilson fired "the kill shot" straight to his brain - that is, on top of his head, according to Mr. Joe Klein's own analysis. So, where is the self-defence possibility theory? How could a guy with his hands in the air, going down in a hail of bullets, pose a threat to Officer Wilson to elicit a self-defence theory? How?

It is practically impossible, under the circumstances, for Officer Wilson to have fired "the kill shot" to the top of Michael Brown's head, while Michael Brown was still standing. From all indications, the guy was already down or going down before the fatal shot - the shot to the brain. There is no fact in the case to support your theory of "possibility" that Officer Wilson was acting or acted in self-defence. Shame on you, Mr. Joe Klein; this is a disappointing act. If you have no fact, stay away from theory or hypothesis.

Mr. Joe Klein, with due respect, you cannot possibly be talking about the "need to address race relations in a thoughtful, provocative way", and at the same time (1) finding grace in justifying a racially influenced callous act (murder) and (2), laboring to discredit an impugn the integrity of those who have sacrificed their lives and time in service of oppressed black men and brown men in the larger society. Who vouches for the Trayvon Martins? Not you and your fellow media commentators. Someone has to do it. How he or she attained such status is immaterial, as long as the voice of the voiceless is heard.

MOVING FORWARD:

Despite everything, I am vehemently and unequivocally against disrespecting, shooting or killing Police Officers by anyone. There is no homicide that I consider as reprehensible or egregious as the killing of Police Officers, children and pregnant women. They deserve our unconditional support and protection. Every profession has its own bad eggs, and the Police Force is not an exception. To ensure cordial and peaceful relationships between the civil society and members of the Police Force, it is required that those at the receiving end display an unconditional level of cooperation when dealing with Police Officers. It is that simple. But first, you MUST love yourself and value your life. If you do, chances are that you will eliminate, or at least reduce the chances of being shot at by the Police.

BROTHERS, PLEASE NEVER RESIST ARREST - ANY ARREST. The "all we are asking for is justice" as most bereaved families are fond of telling news men/women after every fatal shot by Police Officers is not good enough - no amount of justice, imprisonment of the killer or compensation to the family of the victims can take the place of the victim. There is no alternative to living. 

The situation in Ferguson City paints an ugly picture of Black realities in present-day America. For a City that is almost 70% African American to have only 3 Officers out of a Police Unit of 53 Officers is slavery reincarnated. Ferguson is not alone. There are other cities and communities all over the United States, where African Americans, though in the majority, are completely left out of the political system. On this very issue, African Americans do not have anyone to blame but themselves.

In addition, there is no excuse for voter fatigue. People fought and died for you to be able to vote. The more pronounced voter apathy is, the more unrepresented African Americans remain in the power game. In other words, the more African Americans are disconnected from the political system, the more of the Ferguson experience, and the more isolated African Americans will remain in the distribution of offices and wealth.

Indeed, there are entrenched social inequities, poverty and disillusionment within the black communities,  but you cannot make a breakthrough without taking action at the family, local and community levels. It's all about education and organisation.

A Million Man Match should be a yearly affair. It is disgusting to see a picture of a sane and grown-up man, ready to go to college, taking something that does not belong to him by force and threatening the store owner in the process.

Booker T. Washington, despite the overwhelming uncertainties that accompanied his growing up, never wavered in his dream to acquire the advanced education he had eavesdropped on some men talking about inside the mine where he was working as an unlettered adolescent.

There and then, young Booker T made up his mind to go to school and acquire that education. First, he had to save the stipends he was earning working in the mine, not for the anticipated school fees, but for transportation to the unknown land where the institution was. He did that for one year, using his stepfather as his Bank. When the time came for his stepfather to give an account, he had nothing to offer the young man. Booker T persevered and continued to save again for another year. At the end of the second year, he embarked on the journey that would change his life and those of African Americans of later generations, starting with Tuskegee Institute. Please see "Up From Slavery" - The Autobiography of Booker T. Washington." It is a good read, and I recommend it for every American Teenager. 

My brother, love yourself. If you are a High School dropout, a GED is an alternative. Ask 50 Cent (Mr. Curtis Jackson) how to do it. High School is not enough. If the late TUPAC wasn't a voracious reader, he would never have been the prolific songwriter that he was. Also, take a look at the children of African immigrants in your classrooms; they are college-bound after high school graduation. There is no better alternative. 

Brothers, learn from President Obama; in his adolescence, his Dad was a no-show. His Mom was there, but far, far away. At Occidental College, he knew he had to make a move to stay alive and better his life. After just two years, he transferred to Columbia University in New York City, and later, to Harvard Law School. Today, he is the American First Black President. His Mom and Dad were not there when he made the decision to say bye-bye to Occidental College. Guys, you can do the same. Stay out of the streets. Stay at School and get your High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree. You will like the experience.

Policing With Human Face:

At this juncture, I would like to add that given the circumstances surrounding the killing of Michael Brown and another young black man in the same State of Missouri few days ago, it is high time those responsible for the training of Police Officers in the United States of America, shift focus from how to kill black men during confrontation without going to jail or getting indicted. It is my humble suggestion that the focus should be on how to demobilise the potential victims, if the need be, without killing them.

In other words, the training shouldn't be on how to kill "them niggers" - knowing full well that you have a plethora of laws to defend your killing - but on how to eliminate the danger and save lives in the process. For instance, shooting Michael Brown in the legs would have successfully demobilised him instantly, without posing any harm to Officer Wilson. He did not have a deadly weapon, and Officer Wilson was certainly not in any shape or form faced with an imminent threat of bodily harm, injury, or death.

The fact that Michael Brown was walking away, and in fact, had his hands up during the shooting, reinforces the widely heard view that African American men are nothing but disposable objects in the minds of Police Officers in America. At this point in time, the empowerment of the grand jury doesn't really make any difference, whether or not Officer Wilson is indicted, tried or convicted. Whatever the outcome of the ongoing investigation, one thing remains clear: the parents of Michael Brown will never see their son again. That is the saddest part about gun violence and Police shooting of unarmed black men in the United States of America.

(I want to make this clear: none of the eyewitnesses alluded to the fact that Michael Brown was shot and killed from behind. What they have been saying on record was that, when the first gunshot was fired, Michael was backing Officer Wilson. They didn't say he was shot and killed while backing the Officer or that he was shot and killed from behind. I am making this declaration in light of the series of reports by some of the reporters at the scene, talking about some inconsistencies in the eyewitness accounts.  CNN Chris Cuomo, take note: the first gunshot came while he was walking away, backing the Officer. That's it. Not that he was shot and killed from behind, as you reported several times to the eyes, witnesses said. Again, they did not say that. That was your creation (to create inconsistencies where there are none).

Finally, trying to impugn the integrity of Mr. Al Sharpton by making reference to the Tawana Brawley case, as Mr. Klein did somewhere in his piece, is totally repugnant, to say the least. If I may add, how does discrediting Mr. Al add value or substance to your essay, when you are calling for the need to address race relations? You don't have to like Al; he speaks for millions of oppressed Americans out there who do not have or enjoy the kind of unrestricted access to the news media that you enjoy every day. The Brown family needs a voice. The Trayvon Martin's family needs a voice. The Amadou Diallo family needs a voice. And they know who their friends are in the face of Police brutality. You cannot deny that. That's our reality as black people in the United States of America.

See "The Trial and Conviction of Trayvon Martin: A Common Sense Analysis", posted on July 20, 2013. 

IBB @ 73: ‘Why Boko Haram will not survive’ - Vanguard News

IBB @ 73: ‘Why Boko Haram will not survive’ - Vanguard News

Excerpts"

"Foreign assistance to rescue the girls, what do you think of that move? Is it alright? What impact do you think that will make? Secondly, do you support the idea that the government should go into negotiations with Boko Haram?"

"Well, you go into negotiation with people you know, people you identify with, people you see, so (in the Chibok girls case), who do you negotiate with? That is the problem. Who? Surely, I don’t believe the government should call (Boko Haram leader)  Shekau to sit at the table and talk. So, who do you talk to? Nobody! If there are identified persons who, for one reason or another other everybody knows they are fighting, they should come out openly, say this is what they want.  To be fair to the Federal Government, who do they talk to? Tomorrow, if they come out to say ‘this is the leadership,   this is the structure,   this is our grievances,   this is what we want’,   they can sit down and talk, but so far, it hasn’t happened."

"What about the threats of the insurgents on social media. Some months ago, social media was awash with threats from this group that they were going to attack prominent leaders of the North, and we took it with levity. But some weeks ago, a former Head of State, General Buhari, was attacked. Also, your name was mentioned as one of the leaders they will attack. Is it not a source of concern for you, people who have led this country and are still working to keep this country together?   There are also threats to capture states in the North-Central."

"I heard it too. I think the whole objective, as I earlier told you, was to put the fear of Boko Haram into the people, like the fear of Boko Haram is the beginning of wisdom. That is the only tactic they have to use, but I am saying it would not work; all we need is to support the military, the armed forces, and the government in what they are doing. They don’t have the people’s support, and this is why I challenge those who are shouting their voice hoarse to go back to the creeks or the forest. This insurgency would stop, it has to stop because Boko Haram cannot survive" –